Mom's Chocolate Sheet Cake with Chocolate Fudge Frosting

  

My Mom is one of the best cooks I know and is one of my inspirations for starting this blog and my cookbook.  This is the cake she bakes for birthdays and other special occasions.  If you're a chocolate fanatic like our family you are going to love this recipe.  It is so decadently delicious!


Cake:
1) 
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
a pinch of salt


Mix these ingredients together well; set aside.


2)
1 stick of butter
4 TBSP unsweetened cocoa
1 cup water
1/2 cup Crisco


Mix all of these ingredients in a saucepan.  Over medium-high heat bring to a boil.  Pour the boiling mixture over flour and sugar mixture.  Beat well with an electric mixer.


3)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp baking soda


Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk.  Let it sit for a few minutes.


4)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla


Add 1 egg at a time to the cocoa mixture.  Beat well with an electric mixer.  Add buttermilk and then the vanilla. 


Bake the cake in a greased and floured 9 x 13" pan at 350 degrees for 40 - 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Icing:
1 stick of butter
2 cups sugar
2 TBSP light Karo syrup
3 TBSP cocoa
1/4 cup milk


Once the cake has cooled prepare the icing.  If you let the icing sit to long it will be as hard as fudge.  


Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-high heat.  Boil for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Take off the heat and beat with an electric mixture until the icing is not too runny and is thick enough to spread.  Spread the icing on the cake.  After several minutes the icing will set to a fudge-like consistency.  Serve with vanilla ice cream.